Washington (CNN) - Republican leadership including House Speaker John Boehner and the Republican National Committee were quick to respond to Friday's release of the August jobs report. And 2012 GOP presidential contenders weren't far behind.

Just minutes after the Labor Department reported that employers added no jobs last month and the unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus put out a statement saying, "Today's unemployment numbers are another painful reminder that America still awaits economic leadership from President Obama. He spent his summer fundraising and golfing, promising to lay out a jobs plan only after his Martha's Vineyard vacation-all while nearly 14 million Americans remained jobless."/%20http://podcasts.cnn.net/cnn/services/podcasting/audio/politicalnotebook/pn0902.mp3CNN’s Briana Keilar and Bob Costantini chat on the White House lawn about weak employment numbers and look ahead to the president’s address to Congress. Plus, Norm Ornstein considers what Mr. Obama must get through to the American people, if not Congress.

Priebus also called on the president to change course when he gives a major address on jobs next Thursday in a speech before Congress.

"The president needs the courage to admit his regulatory regime is the biggest road block to job creation. America's job creators cannot hire workers while handcuffed by regulations, crushed by mandates and threatened with taxes. If the president refuses to change course, America's unemployed with be the victims of his failure," adds Priebus.

Boehner released a statement saying he looked forward to hearing the president's ideas on boosting job creation.

“Private-sector job growth continues to be undermined by the triple threat of higher taxes, more failed ‘stimulus’ spending, and excessive federal regulations," he said.

“President Obama is slated to address Congress next week and I look forward to hearing his ideas to bolster private-sector job creation. The American people are still asking, ‘Where are the jobs?’"

And Mitt Romney appeared to be the first Republican presidential candidate to react to the jobs numbers.

In a statement put out 15 minutes after the jobs report was released, the former Massachusetts governor, who's making his second bid for the White House, called the report "unacceptable" and said it's "further proof that President Obama has failed."

"Two days after I offered a plan with serious solutions that would create jobs and get our economy going, we learn of yet another month with zero job growth," said the former Utah governor and former U.S. ambassador to China.

"There is no clearer sign that the President has failed and the theatrics around his far-too-late jobs speech demonstrate that he has no real plan to change course. In a country with 307 million people, zero job growth is unfathomable. It's time for America to compete again and it's time for a new president."

Huntsman spelled out his jobs plan Wednesday in a speech in New Hampshire. Late Thursday night, the Wall Street Journal, in an editorial, praised Huntsman's proposal. The Journal is very influential among fiscal conservatives.

Romney doesn't formally spell out his plan to create jobs until Tuesday in Nevada, two days before the president speaks about job creation in an address to Congress. But he gave a preview of his speech Friday morning, when he addressed the Republican National Hispanic Assembly in Tampa, Florida, saying, "I will make business taxes competitive with other nations, eliminate burdensome regulations and bureaucracy, and support America's workers instead of its union bosses."

About an hour after the release of the jobs report, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann put out a statement.

"Mr. President – we gave you $2.4 trillion in new spending and the American people got nothing in return. Today's jobs report showing that the economy created no jobs in the last month and unemployment at 9.1 percent is further evidence that President Obama's failed economic policies are not working and have completely stalled job growth," said the congresswoman, who is also running for the GOP presidential nomination.

Also criticizing the president was former Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania. The GOP White House candidate said, "This morning's jobs report is another sad sign that President Obama's economic policies would need to improve dramatically to even be described as incompetent."

Santorum released his jobs plan in July.

Businessman Herman Cain also decried the dismal report saying, "Sadly, the fact that zero jobs were created last month is only fitting for this administration, which is led by a President with zero leadership, zero plans, zero results and zero understanding of basic economics. And the American people are worse off because of it," in a statement.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, the front-runner in the most recent national polls in the battle for the GOP nomination, put out a statement that touted job growth in his state.

"President Obama's job-killing polices continue to wreak havoc on the American economy. The poor national jobs picture stands in stark contrast to Texas' pro-jobs, limited government policies which helped make us the top job-producing state in the nation," said Perry.

"Our country cannot afford four more years of economic misery, and I will continue to travel the county talking about ways to get American working again."

Former House Speaker and current GOP presidential candidate Newt Gingrich weighed in on the jobs report in an e-mail sent to supporters.

"Stagnant economic growth is the inevitable result of President Obama's commitment to class warfare and bureaucratic socialism," Gingrich said.

"The president routinely demonizes successful Americans, arguing they need to be punished with higher taxes. Is it any wonder that entrepreneurs are hesitant to invest, create new wealth and jobs?"

soundoff(134 Responses)

The Elephant in The Room

How about if Republican learders respond WITH SOLUTION. How about that?!

Look all they do is "respond", they are not leaders, they are followers. Regardless of the content of their so-called "jobs plans" [they are really tax reform plans designed to shift more burden to the middle class], WE ALL notice how it wasn`t until the President announced that he was going to give a major address on jobs that Huntsmann, Romney, Roomer scrambled to grab the microphone to do their twisted version of the same stated objective?

There isn`t an ORIGINAL THINKER on that side of the political spectrum.

As businessmen Romney was a corporate raider than outsoured jobs and FIRED workers. Huntsman created 15 jobs in CHINA for every ONE he created in the US. Is this really what passes for job creating leadership these days? Stick with Obama.

September 2, 2011 09:31 am at 9:31 am |

Donkey Party

I hope every last despicable GOPbagger and their cultist following die slow, excruciating deaths. It's only fair since they want to kill America so badly. They are infinitely worse than Al Queda or the Taliban. Hell is going to turn them away when they show up there for two reasons, one, they're all going there so there's going to be an overcrowding issue, and two, many will be turned away because they are too rotten to the core and Satan doesn't want to be upstaged.

September 2, 2011 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

James

The Republicans damned well should be incensed about the lack of job growth. After all, they all campaigned based on the promise to solve the unemployment crisis But, like with all politicians, "promise" is just another word for meaningless rhetoric to get elected.

We need to start holding elected officials to their campaign promises. If they fail to meet them, they get barred from elected offices for life and lose their pension and all other benefits from their time in office. Maybe that will at least give them pause when lying/opening their mouths.

September 2, 2011 09:35 am at 9:35 am |

Lost in Texas FOREVER

every month before the ink on the teletype is dry the Republicans want to come out and pounce if the job numbers are not as good as we all hoped. Yet I recall right after Obama extended the Bush tax cuts and the numbers were trending a bit upward some Republicans wanted to come out and take credit for it. Please America wake up and see that the GOP does NOT want the economy to improve as long as they ae out of office and will do little to nothing to try to help it improve. They are more content to stand on the sidelines being critcal, throwing stones, and telling you the lies they want you to believe. They supposedly have a jobs plan to release next week........almost 8 months after they won the House. How long does it take to write down cut taxes on the rich and cut more spending?

September 2, 2011 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

Lynda/Minnesota

Caution: Vulture attack. Vulture attack. Good grief, would but these idiots grow up and STOP, just STOP this idiotic nonsense. NO ONE seems to be able to get a handle on job creation, including Mr. Corporations Are People Too Mitt Romney. Go take it to the Corporations WHO AREN'T HIRING and shout at THEM for a change. Dig deeper and you might even realize that Corporate America is STILL outsourcing jobs overseas, even with 9% unemployment here in America.

September 2, 2011 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

Ohboy

Isn't this the job of congress? But then again, when your sheep are a bunch of uneducated goofs that will believe anything that comes out of your mouths, no surprise. Only problem is, the middle class isn't fooled.

September 2, 2011 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

Ed Cortes

They seem to forget that under the US Constitution, congress is responsible for passing laws, and that the President is responsible for implementing them. The President can't create jobs, that's the responsibility of congress. So, where are the jobs bills?

September 2, 2011 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

Rick McDaniel

Let me know, when they actually present a workable plan, that will get results. Right now, all anyone is offering, GOP or Dem, is a pig in a poke.

September 2, 2011 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

TigerLily194

EXCUSE ME............ isn't this what the Repubilcans ran on when they took over the House.. Jobs. Jobs....... We will put America back to work? So Republicans "Where are the Jobs you promised?" You have been in control of the House since January what is taking you so long to find all of those jobs you promised.... or have I been miss lead?

September 2, 2011 09:36 am at 9:36 am |

MedaBlkman

Really.....................so all those repuks/KKKers/teabaggers who were elected to HOUSE in 2010 on basis of "creating jobs" have done WHAT to create jobs? Not a dayum thing! But thats ok because everyone is aware repuks tell bold-faced LIES all the time. This is stupid because its like the pot calling the kettle black............literally.

September 2, 2011 09:37 am at 9:37 am |

Sniffit

GOP: "Mission Accomplished."

September 2, 2011 09:39 am at 9:39 am |

Yeah Right

Wait a second GOP, werent jobs supposed to be your NUMBER ONE priority when you were elected last year? I dont recall seeing any bills sent to the president from you to stimulate employment either......

September 2, 2011 09:40 am at 9:40 am |

60minuteman

Herbert Hoover tried austerity too. We are going to "cut" ourselves into a depression.

September 2, 2011 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

Ryan NC

Where are the Jobs Republicans promised to get elected? They lied to us and keep on doing it! The only thing they care about is their social conservative agenda and the protection of their big donors privileges!

September 2, 2011 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

Craig from Pa.

Well, the Republicans insist on tax cuts being extended for the wealthy, who create jobs....where are the jobs here in the U.S.??? They have had the tax cut for 10 years...C'mon Repubs & Tea Baggers.....tell me your solutions!!!

September 2, 2011 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

nintex

I am so sick of the Republicans I could just throw up. How stupid do they think the American people are? They seem to think no one can remember last November when they were going to create jobs, jobs, jobs. I can't wait for President Obama to be elected in a landslide in the next election to begin his second term where he can actually get some work done for the country without these stupid tea people (because they will all be gone by then!) dragging him down and the country back to the dark ages.

September 2, 2011 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

Whammybar

GOP gasbag.............thier jobs policy is to make the Pesident look bad no matter how much damage they do to the country.
This mess is their fault and that is fact. It will not correct itself while they play their political games and they know that.

September 2, 2011 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

Madison

If I remember correctly republican party won the last election for congress. Somebody please tell me what they have been doing for this job problem. I never heard anything constructive from them other then complaining and resisting anything this president does. Btw, I am independent.

September 2, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

roro

Doesn't Priebus know that it's CONGRESS that devises and passes the laws in this country – NOT the president. Obama has repeatedly been roundly rebuffed and disrespected by the Republican party at every turn. They are the ones who blasted the stimulus, but gladly take the money. They are the ones who want to give more money to the wealthy, while cleaning out the pockets of the working class. They want fewer regulations on big banks and businesses so they can reap even more profits while sending US jobs overseas. Republicans are nothing but HYPOCRITES and anyone with a brain knows that.

September 2, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Me

You know what they say - if you see a problem without a solution offered then you're just a complainer. I suspect the President is going to go big in his jobs bill proposal and then GOPers will just shoot it down. Then, there won't be doubt as to the blockers in DC.

September 2, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Rudy NYC

RNC Chairman Reince Priebus put out a statement saying, "Today's unemployment numbers are another painful reminder that America still awaits economic leadership from President Obama. He spent his summer fundraising and golfing, promising to lay out a jobs plan only after his Martha's Vineyard vacation-all while nearly 14 million Americans remained jobless."
-------------
He forgot meet with people. Isn't that Boehner, McConnell, and most every other member of Congress did during the month of August? Should we compare home videos of everyone's vacations? Sounds stupid, right? That's because it is.

September 2, 2011 09:44 am at 9:44 am |

Anthony

Should Republicans in Congress take some responsibility for the bleak job numbers after they campaigned on "jobs, jobs, jobs" in 2010, and whatever they have done since taking over the House has not produced "jobs, jobs, jobs"? And whatever regulatory blocks from the Obama Administration Republicans are complaining about, were they around in 2008 when the economy was losing hundreds of thousands of jobs a month?

September 2, 2011 09:44 am at 9:44 am |

Grizzled

Where are the jobs bills, Republicans? You campaigned on JOBS, JOBS, JOBS and haven't put forward anything. Claiming that rolling back regulations and cutting taxes will increase hiring are red herrings. We've given you ten years of tax cuts, and even including them in the big stimulus package (which basically reduced its efficacy), and have seen employment numbers tank. Americans are still waiting for the amazing encomic boom you told us would come from the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts. So let's try this: either those saintly "job creators" start adding jobs in the next few months or their tax rates will start climbing back to their mid-90s levels. Seems fair enough.

September 2, 2011 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

DA

Hummmm...i didn't hear him say one word about the Speaker being out on vacation?

September 2, 2011 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

Clwyd

So republicans and your blind zombies please tell us where is one piece of legislation to aid job creation? We know of all the republican governors pouring out money to corporations and businesses on a state level to create jobs, but it is like flushing it down the toilet!